Uganda announces 10-year tourism plan beyond safaris
Uganda is set to transform its tourism industry with a raft of new policies aimed at diversifying visitor experiences beyond traditional wildlife safaris. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has announced a ten-year plan that will integrate gastronomy and local cultural experiences into the country's tourism offerings.
Lilly Ajarova, CEO of UTB, highlighted plans to promote Uganda's vibrant food scene and introduce agrotourism, allowing visitors to participate in farm-to-plate experiences and traditional cooking. This move aims to provide tourists with a deeper understanding of Uganda's rural life and cultural heritage.
The country is also bolstering its business travel sector, with global hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott investing in new infrastructure to cater to the growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) market.
In a bold move to boost domestic tourism, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will offer free entry to top national parks, including Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Pian Upe, on 17-18 October 2024. This initiative aims to encourage more locals to experience Uganda's natural wonders and dispel the notion that wildlife tourism is exclusively for wealthy visitors.
Each park offers unique attractions, from Murchison Falls' dramatic waterfalls to Kidepo Valley's vast buffalo herds and cultural experiences with the Karimojong people. These initiatives reflect Uganda's commitment to becoming a diverse tourism destination, offering rich cultural, gastronomic, and natural experiences to both domestic and international visitors.
Source: The Independent